Davante Adams is the wide receiver Matthew Stafford didn't know he needed

As soon as the Los Angeles Rams announced the addition of elite veteran wide receiver Davante Adams, two immediate impressions came rushing to mind. The first knee-jerk reaction is how disappointed the team must have grown over wide receiver Cooper Kupp's lack of durability.

But the second immediate reaction was second-guessing the team's commitment to doing all of the necessary steps to ensure Adams' full potential was unleashed in the offense. Of course, we know how things have turned out. It's been an unmistakable upgrade for this offense,

Adams has been a bit of a mystery, and a good one at that. At what is essential the mid-point of the 2025 NFL season, Adams has only managed to haul in 36 of 70 passes (a 51.4 percent catch rate) for 491 yards. But where the gold comes is the eight touchdown receptions made in eight games. That is equal to or better than five of his 12 NFL seasons.

Better still, he has already caught more touchdown passes than everyone since wide receiver Cooper Kupp caught 16 touchdowns in 2021.

Davante Adams is the go-to guy for Matthew Stafford in the red zone

Chemistry between Adams and Stafford has not come easily. It's been a work in progress for the veteran duo. But it has shown signs of rapid improvement of late. In Week 9, Adams snagged almost every pass thrown his way. He scored two touchdowns in Week 9, following three touchdowns in Week 7, which tied him with tight end legend Tony Gonzalez for the eighth-most touchdown receptions in NFL history

And for the first time in Matthew Stafford's career, he has thrown for four or more touchdown passes in consecutive games. Best of all, he's done so without throwing an interception.

And there it is. The component to this offense that Matthew Stafford didn't realize he desperately needed. Adams can get open with some of the best moves off the line of scrimmage ever witnessed from a wide receiver. And that gives Stafford a target in the red zone to throw to. Time and time again.

The ability of Adams to be an open target gives opposing secondaries impossible choices. If the defense doubles Adams, a tight end or other receiver remains undefended. If they try to defend him with one defensive back, he simply adds to his touchdown totals.

Mathew Stafford has thrown for 2,147 yards, 21 touchdowns, and just two interceptions in eight games. His touchdown-to-interception ratio has never been close to this good before.

The variable is clear. He has never thrown to Davante Adams before.

As always, thanks for reading.